Being an Anand fan I felt much better about his chances against Carlsen during the round 12 game against Andreikin Dmitry, where he had a decisive advantage. After Anand opted for a draw (3-fold) I now have major concerns. He simply needs the mental toughness to cash-in when he gets postions with the advantage against Carlsen, which admittedly will be few. He let 1-2 positions get away against Carlsen last year, where he had a clear advantage. I know its far easier to say he should have won the round 12 game but I feel these are the type of games he must win against Carlsen if he has chance.
Does Anand even have a "puncher's chance"? Part 2
Sort:
It will be quite a story to tell if he wins. A chess player beyond his prime loses his title but the very next year he takes the chess world by storm and steals it right back!
Like SlickMick has said above, Anand not playing for a win in round 12 of the candidates tournament where he had a winning position (which he knew but said it was 'dangerous') will be his downfall.
That seems far more effective than getting Justin Bieber to hang with Magnus until we see them both together on a police mugshot.
.....................................................................................
This plan might also work...I here through trusted circles that "The Biebs" love his weed...Anand may have a slight chance with a stoned Carlsen
I was also disappointed in Anand for not going for the neck in that game...but what amazed me is at the press conference he indicated that he had seen the line Rc3...that was clearly a computer move.
A Carlsen versus on-the-wagon-Ivanchuk would be a nice final. At least Anand gets a few quid for getting beat again.
Thor, the god of thunder, vs. Vishnu, god of the multi-handed bitchslap.
lol jesterville, maybe you should go through your own plan and not anand. He is too old now :D
I beleive if Anand comes really in form, and I mean 2008 wc against Kramnik, then I think he can win. The way Carlsen won the WCC was similar to Anand's win in 2008. Anand established a 3 point advantage in first 6 games! There were 4 draws and one win for Kramnik ending the match prematurely in 11 Games. Anand winning twice with black, strangely only once with white! Anand win with a 6.5-4.5 which I call a good score.
That being said Anand is quite old. Carlsen, in reality, may or maynot be a cyborg. So the only thing certain right now is that it will be a great match.
HatePositionalChess wrote:
So the only thing certain right now is that it will be a great match.
I don't think that's certain. Anand has to get a good start, though I'm not sure Carlsen will be as nervous as last time at the start of the next match.
SlickMick wrote:
Being an Anand fan I felt much better about his chances against Carlsen during the round 12 game against Andreikin Dmitry, where he had a decisive advantage. After Anand opted for a draw (3-fold) I now have major concerns.
You should take the tournament situation into account. Anand didn't need to risk it. A draw was enough to keep a comfortable lead.
Zinsch wrote:
SlickMick wrote:
Being an Anand fan I felt much better about his chances against Carlsen during the round 12 game against Andreikin Dmitry, where he had a decisive advantage. After Anand opted for a draw (3-fold) I now have major concerns.
You should take the tournament situation into account. Anand didn't need to risk it. A draw was enough to keep a comfortable lead.
I'm aware of the tournament situation but he had a chance to mathematically end all chances for everyone else had he won round 12. By 'agreeing' to draw he left small chances. Plus he knew the position was won! If it was the last round and he only needed a draw then ok. I really would like to see Anand give Carlsen his best and even win but after round 12 I do have concerns. After Anand played Qg4 in round 12 I was thinking 'Anand is back!', off of his miserable slump over the last 2 years. In comparison a round 12 win would have made his candidates results much better than Carlsen's candidates results, which is good pshychologically. Hopefully for me though Anand is just warming up and putting his long slump behind. No matter what still an impressive come-back win for Anand which should convince anyone, YES he does have legit chance against Carlsen.
Not really. He should try a Najdorf if Carlsen plays 1.e4, hedgehog if 1.c4 or 1.Nf3 (black can get a great game even if white tries anti-hedgehogs, consider the following*), and Nimzo-Bogo Indian if 1.d4 or even the Leningrad Dutch if he's feeling adventerous (assuming Carlsen won't go for some anti-Dutch, which can get dangerous, some are obscure yet they're all sound)
*
Only a draw but still.
Ubik42 wrote:
jesterville wrote:
Anand has a number of problems to address before he meets with Thor again.
...like change his name to Loki.
Seems like that would only compound his problems. Unless, I guess, you reckon being bound with your sons entrails while a viper drips its venom in your face makes you a stronger chess player.
Mar 31, 2014
0
#57
Well, the blitz (not the rapid that comes before it) may be Anand's best chance. In blitz, Anand's FIDE rating is 2827. Carlsen's is only 2837. In rapid, Carlsen sports a 2827 rating while Anand is 2770. So yes, the faster the time control, the better for Anand. But he still would not be favored, even there.
Mar 31, 2014
0
#58
Perhaps Carlsen will be the next Euwe, remembered only as a brief huccup in Anand long Championship reign.
Mar 31, 2014
0
#59
SmyslovFan wrote:
What doesn't kill you...
.
Leaves you in a wheelchair for the rest of your natural life.
Mar 31, 2014
0
#60
No, Josef. Anand was the first among equals, much like Botvinnik in the 1950s.
Kasparov dominated tournament chess from 1985-2000. Carlsen is Kasparov without a Karpov to push him. Carlsen only has Kasparov's legacy to pursue.
The only player who, at his best, can challenge Carlsen in a match is Kramnik. Kramnik's openings and technical skill, when healthy, are the second best in the world. Kramnik clearly wasn't at his best this time, but in the last Candidates, we saw a glimpse of what a great match Kramnik-Carlsen could have been.
But only slightly